Seattle anticipates more "car-free days"

Lake Washington Boulevard and other Seattle streets are likely to have experimental "car-free days" later this summer as part of Mayor Greg Nickels' green agenda.

The parks department has told lakeside residents that it proposes limiting traffic to bikes and pedestrians on Thursdays, and to increase the "Bicycle Saturdays and Sundays" to at least one a week.

Alki Avenue Southwest is one of several sites being considered separately for a single car-free day.

Decisions will be made "pretty soon" on which streets to close, Nickels said Thursday. Closures would be near parks, as well as roadways inside Seward Park and Volunteer Park, he said.

The idea is to let people enjoy the streets in new and healthy ways. Eventually, the city envisions frequent car-free days, perhaps on a series of connected streets. For now, there would be a few test cases to see whether people participate, said Seattle transportation spokesman Rick Sheridan.

A small backlash has begun along Lake Washington Boulevard South, where athletic events, bike days and hydroplane races already close the roadway at times.

"Our main problem is getting out of our house, taking care of one another, and being able to get in our vehicles and get to our emergency hospitals and our medical appointments during the week," said resident Dolores Merriman.

Some residents need visiting nurses, she said. On Thursdays, she normally expects landscapers, recycling and garbage pickup, mail delivery and other services that would be hindered or blocked, she said.

Pat Murakami, president of the Mount Baker Community Club, said she's received five complaints this week. If the road is closed, Murakami said, the city needs signs to ensure that delivery drivers and disabled-access vehicles will use the road to serve homebound people.

Parks officials have authority over the lakefront boulevard because it is part of the Olmsted park and boulevard plan adopted in 1904, said spokeswoman Dewey Potter.

Other roads fall under the Seattle Department of Transportation, which still must study the costs and effects on traffic mobility before announcing the sites, Sheridan said. A parks memo mentions Pioneer Square, First Avenue, Alki, part of the Montlake Bridge, and the Washington Park Arboretum area as possible SDOT locations.

Car-free days have become fashionable in hundreds of cities — inspired by Bogotá, Colombia, which closes more than 70 miles of streets every Sunday.

Portland closed six miles for Parkway Sunday last weekend, and thousands walked or biked there. In Vancouver, B.C., a car-free day attracted dancing, bands, cookouts and Mexican-style wrestling.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631

or mlindblom@seattletimes.com